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Presents news briefs on the chemical industry in Europe as of February 25, 2002. Ban on the sale of chemicals that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction proposed by the European Commission; Polymer polyol plant constructed by Shell at Pernis, the Netherlands.

Deals with the efforts of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) in analyzing the liability of a trucking company in handling hazardous-materials. Overview of the existing regulation of the DOT on hazardous-materials handling; Contention of the Federal Express company, on the existing ruling of the DOT; Impact of the ruling on the prevalence of lawsuits filed by shippers to carriers.

Reports the violation of Novel Tees Wholesale on the hazardous materials policy of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. Shipment of hazardous materials; Destination of the shipment; Civil penalty filed by the FAA against the company.

Reports the proposed rule of the United States Department of Transportation regarding the loading and unloading of hazardous materials. Functions and activities subject to the Hazardous Materials Regulations; Definition of storage incident to transportation; Role of warehousemen in complying with pretransportion functions.

Presents news briefs related to the chemical industry in Europe as of April 2001. Scheme started by the European Association of Chemical Distributors for the notification of hazardous chemicals banned or restricted for import/export under European Union legislation; Closure of the polyvinyl chloride and vinyl monomer plants of Solvin at Zandvliet, Belgium; Acquisition of two Helvar Merca terminals in Finland by Vopak company.

Reports that the European Commission has proposed in January 2001 a priority list of substances that it wants phased out or more strictly controlled to meet with new water quality standards that were finalized by the commission in 2000. List of the priority hazardous substances; Statement issued by the commission.

Reports on the executive order received United States federal agencies to reduce their use of selected toxic chemicals, hazardous substances and pollutants by 50% by the end of 2006. Statement issued by the Chemical Manufacturers Association regarding its opposition to the move; Details on the executive order.

Focuses on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's initiatives aimed at reducing the use of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substances. Draft PBT list being prepared by the agency; Probable inclusion of several metals on the list; Details of the agency's PBT initiatives.

Reports on the United States Federal Aviation Administration's proposal to fine AAR Airframe and Accessories for violations of hazardous material policy in the US. Fine imposed on Sabre Tech in connection with the 1996 crash of a ValuJet DC-9 airplane in the Florida Everglades; Shipment by AAR of oxygen generators aboard an Air France passenger flight to Chicago, Illinois in 1997.

Reports on the rule of the United States Environmental Protection Agency that requires plants and manufacturers to file risk management plans and identify all hazardous substances on a factory site and identify their worst-case scenarios. Importance of the rule to public information; Worries about overreaction to worst-case scenarios presented by companies.

Reports on the United States Department of Transportation's proposal to raise federal hazardous material registration fees. Plan to use the extra registration fee income to strengthen the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant program; Expansion of the base of companies required to pay a registration fee.

Announces the availability of the National Institute of Building Sciences' data base on state regulations pertaining to lead. Contact information.

Reports on the Chemical Manufacturers Association's (CMA) intention to have a meeting with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work out differences over the regulatory treatment of hazardous materials that are recycled in chemical processes. EPA's draft report outlining guidelines for hazardous waste recycling; CMA's belief that the recommendations would lead to even less recycling.

Reports on efforts by environmental groups to uphold the toxics use reporting requirement of New Jersey. Toxics Release Inventory as only a partial picture of risks to the local community; Hopes of fending off the proposed emission thresholds.

Reports on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) release of a citizen right-to-know toxic substance list designed to prevent chemical release accidents. Issuance of third final rule pertaining to chemical accident prevention; Need for companies to provide facility-specific information on potential hazards; Need for companies handling substances above certain thresholds to prepare risk management plans.

Reports on the U.S. chemical industry's examination of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to expand the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Focus on whether the additions are toxic chemicals that pose a threat to the public; Increase in the number of chemicals whose emissions must be reported to the federal government; Estimated additional compliance costs.

Reports on the proposed accidental release prevention rule of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Required public availability of worst-case accident scenarios; Effect on the chemical industry; Response of the Chemical Manufacturers Association.

Reports on the plan of the Danish Government to introduce regulations targeting hazardous chemicals. Plan to add more chemical products to the list of undesirable substances; Intention of the government to form a task force to increase the frequency of chemical site inspections.

Presents updates on federal regulations regarding brownfields and toxic substances in the United States. Planned revision of regulations governing brownfield cleanups while the Superfund is stalled in the Congress; Incentives offered by various states to have industrial properties cleaned up; Why California's Supreme Court will not review an appeal by The National Paints and Coatings Association regarding Proposition 65.

Provides information on the right-to-know law in New Jersey as reported by the environmental group Inform. Function of the right-to-know law; Comments of New Jersey state industry representatives in the Inform report; Toxics used in New Jersey state industry.

Reports on the European Parliament's issuance of a directive on the control of major accidents involving dangerous substances that replaces the 1982 Seveso directive.

Reports on the Environmental Protection Agency's raising of the threshold for reporting accidental releases of 202 extremely hazardous substances. Agency's elimination of four chemicals from the hazardous list; Proposed changes as part of government's reinventing of environmental regulations.

Reports on the European Union's deliberations to arrive at a compromise for new directives on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) and Major Accidents Involving Dangerous Substances. Revision of the Seveso directive.

Reports on changes in federal regulations concerning hazardous materials in the United States. Broadening of exceptions to incident report requirements.

Illustrates how California's officials are implementing its laws on hazardous materials. Experience of a family who were billed with $6,544 for the decontamination services performed by the San Mateo County hazardous-materials unit in their residence.

Reports on news briefs about chemical industry regulations in the United States as of August 24, 1998. Environmental benefits from the Clean Air Act as reported by the US Office of Management and Budget; Proposal by the US Department of Transportation to change hazardous materials regulations.

Reports on the approval of a bill designed to simplify the process for distributing information about hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Approval by the US House Education and Workforce Committee; Amendment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's hazard communication standard; Electronic access of employees to information.

Discloses that the European chemical industry is making moves to involve environmental and consumer groups in assessing the risks posed by potentially hazardous chemicals. Regulations passed by the European Union for testing dangerous chemicals; Participation of the European Chemical Industry Council in the efforts.

Reports that the US Environmental Protection Agency is expecting to publish a rule that would change section 8(d) health and safety reporting requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act to establish a voluntary reporting system in the United States. Collection of data on health effects from chemical exposure and other information related to chemical production and use.

Reports on the opposition by the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) on the proposal by the Department of Transportation that would force small rural marketers to comply with hazardous material rules.

Reports that OSHA has issued an enforcement directive regarding emergency response operations for release or threatened release of hazardous substances at any location.

Reports on the US Department of Transportation's (DOT) Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) implementation of its hazardous materials pilot ticketing program, according to the National Paint & Coatings Association's `Coatings' newsletter. Implementation of the program to address ticketing procedures for certain hazardous materials transportation violations.